HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210201 Kaua`i police initiate public safety efforts with new projectDEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: February 1, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
TODD G. RAYBUCK, CHIEF
(808) 241-1600
Kaua‘i police initiate public safety efforts with new project
KAIKEA – In alignment with Kauaʽi Police Chief Todd G. Raybuck’s Crime Reduction Goals, Project
Kaikea Barriers was recently initiated in an effort to make the southbound shoulder of Kūhiō Highway,
above the north end of the Kaikea Lookout parking lot, safer.
“Over the past several months, KPD has been receiving numerous complaints about a growing
houseless camp located within an area of overgrown foliage near the south end of Kealia Kai,” said KPD
Detective Barry DeBlake who was instrumental in implementing the project. “One of the main
complaints was that the camp was situated on a blind turn where people would drive their vehicles
straight onto Kūhiō Highway. Vehicles merging and vehicles traveling southbound would not have
enough time to see each other, thereby increasing the likelihood of a crash.”
The objective of Project Kaikea Barriers was to block vehicular traffic to the houseless camp and
reduce the chances of a serious and/or fatal vehicle crash occurring.
In order to accomplish this, KPD’s Acting District Commander (Kawaihau/Hanalei) Jason
Overmyer, who is a former KPD Traffic Safety Unit Sergeant trained in traffic crash reconstruction,
assessed the area in order to determine that vehicles merging onto the highway posed a high risk.
“We then enlisted the help of the County of Kauaʿi’s Roads Division Assistant Chief Scott Suga
and his work crew, who did everything from supplying the big trucks to transporting the cement jersey
barriers and heavy equipment, to clearing the southbound shoulder and setting the barriers,” said
DeBlake. “Moreover, due to the location of the houseless camp right next to Kūhio Highway, we also
received support from the Hawaiʽi Department of Transportation's Homeless Coordinator Jun Yang,
along with the support of the DOT Highways Kauaʿi District, District Engineer Larry Dill, and staff, and
DOT supervisors Willy Ortal and Jason Fukino.”
Additionally, HDOT and DOT Kauaʽi played a significant role in the success of Project Kaikea
Barriers by having their staff, big trucks, and heavy equipment readily available in the unlikely event
other assistance was needed.
“They also sent out the Grace Pacific Traffic Cone Crew, who was able to set up traffic cones so
that normal traffic would not be interrupted during the project,” said DeBlake. “Without everyone’s
help, including all KPD officers who assisted, we would not have been able to accomplish this mission.”
As of this week, due to this collective effort of several entities, the cement jersey barriers have
been installed and now permanently prevent vehicles from accessing the area.
Please note that this project was specifically focused on traffic safety concerns and because of
the pandemic, no houseless subjects were forced to leave the camp.
Courtesy of KPD: Photos of cement jersey barriers being installed at Kaikea to prevent vehicles from
entering and leaving the area, therefore, decreasing the chances of a traffic crash.
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